Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
The street the lot was located on was empty and quiet. Zach hooked one arm around Hadley’s waist as they walked up to the door. He buzzed and they were let in. He approached the window where a young man sat leaning back in his seat, his legs propped on the counter.
Zach cleared his throat.
The guy swung his feet down to the floor and swept his too-long hair off his forehead. “What do ya need?” he asked.
“Dario around?” Zach looked beyond him but the door behind the guy was shut. Dario was expecting him. He, too, had been alerted since having drugs in his garage would, in other circumstances, land him in jail. He also needed to know that if things went right, the cops would be swarming the place.
He was relieved nobody had approached them before they got to the car. It made it easier for them to search the car without the dirtbag breathing down their necks.
“Yo, D! Got someone asking for you,” the guy yelled.
A few minutes later, Dario, the manager of the lot walked out from the rear. About Zach’s age, he and Dario had gotten to know each other thanks to the amount of cars towed from The Back Door’s lot after being left for a stretch.
“Zach! It’s been too long.” Dario strode over and slapped him on the back, pulling him in for a hug and tucking something inside his jacket pocket. As planned.
His blond hair had been shaved last time Zach had seen him and now he had begun growing it back. “Who’s this pretty lady?” Dario asked.
Zach eased Hadley closer. “This is Hadley. Hadley, meet Dario.”
“Hi.” She treated him to a stiff greeting. He knew she was worried about Dani, but he couldn’t let on to Hadley that he had a plan.
Talking to the lot owner was part of his usual routine. “I heard you have my girl’s car?”
Dario inclined his head. He flipped Zach the keys. “Come with me.” He led them through the door he’d come through and into the back, bypassing going outside. He opened the metal, over-sized garage door. Zach didn’t mind not hearing the loud, grinding gears.
“First floor in the back. No charge. Just keep my drinks free.”
Zach chuckled. “Will do.”
Dario grinned. “I’ll go open the electric door so you can pull out.”
“Thanks, man. But we’re not going to take it just yet. I want to grab something Hadley left inside and once she makes her plans, we’ll be back for the car. That work for you?”
Dario nodded. “Head on inside and let me know when you’re finished.”
Zach waited until Dario stepped back through the door to the offices and closed it behind him before turning to Hadley.
Bracing his hands on her shoulders, he let her know the next steps. “Okay, if Patrice’s boyfriend was watching, he hasn’t shown his face. Right now, let’s dig through the vehicle. Once we find what he’s after, we walk outside where I assume he’ll be waiting.”
As would the cops Remy had called. Not wanting to give Hadley more to worry about, he hadn’t told her what his plan was. He didn’t want her any jumpier than she was or for her to accidently give something away.
She drew a shaky breath and met his gaze, fear obvious in her wide eyes. “Promise me you have a plan?”
He nodded. “I promise. And I will do the best I can to get your sister home and safe with you again.”
“That’s good enough for me,” she said in a shaky voice. “I trust you and I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t.”
The fist around his heart that had been squeezing him tight loosened. “And that’s good enough for me. Come on.” He grasped her hand and together they walked to her car.
Ignoring the muggy heat and humidity in the garage, they found her old vehicle. He opened the locks. She crawled into the back, and he took the front. He turned over floor mats, dug his hand between and beneath the seats, opened the glove compartment and sorted through every paper inside. He delved into the center panel, the door wells and in the back, Hadley did the same.
“Nothing.” She smacked the seats in frustration.
“Come out.” He pushed himself backwards out of the car and met her around the back. “I’ll pop the trunk.”
Once it opened, they both began to search. “This is quite the mess,” he said, tossing through sweatshirts and bags filled with who knew what.
She let out a laugh. “All the stuff from my classroom that I never got a chance to empty out when I got home. Posters from the walls, markers, dry erase markers…” She shrugged. “Normally I’d already be buying more for next year.”
He heard the warmth in her voice and turned his head. “You love to teach, don’t you?”